BioMed X Launches New Neuroscience Research Team to Investigate Anhedonia
- The new BioMed X research team, led by neuroscientist Dr. Kevin Michael Keary III, will investigate the brain circuit mechanisms underlying anhedonia to identify biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets.
New Haven, CT, USA, September 29, 2026 – BioMed X, a leading innovation engine for pharma, today announced the start of a new research team in collaboration with AbbVie at the BioMed X Institute in New Haven, Connecticut. The new project, entitled “Circuit-Based Model Systems of Anhedonia” (CMA), will be led by BioMed X innovation boot camp winner Dr. Kevin Michael Keary III.
Before joining BioMed X as Group Leader, Dr. Keary was a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of California, San Francisco, in the laboratory of Dr. Kevin Bender, where he specialized in dopamine D3 receptor signaling and its engagement by antipsychotic medications. He received his PhD in Neuroscience through the Brown University–NIH Graduate Partnerships Program, studying mechanisms of hippocampal structural and functional plasticity with Dr. Zheng Li.
Anhedonia, the diminished ability to experience pleasure, is a debilitating symptom in Major Depressive Disorder and Schizophrenia. Despite the clear clinical need, traditional antidepressant and antipsychotic medications lack adequate treatment efficacy for anhedonia relief. This is in part due to insufficient understanding of the cellular, circuit, and network mechanisms contributing to anhedonia.
In collaboration with our industry sponsor AbbVie, Team CMA aims to advance our understanding of the circuit mechanisms underlying anhedonia through the development of new anhedonia model systems with high human translational value.
“By delineating the circuitry and mechanisms contributing to anhedonia, we hope to identify biomarkers to improve diagnostic criteria and identify therapeutic targets to improve functional outcomes in anhedonia treatment,” said Dr. Kevin Michael Keary III, Group Leader at BioMed X.
“Anhedonia is a complex condition with a substantial unmet medical need,” said Dr. Bahareh Eftekharzadeh, Head of Research USA at BioMed X. “In collaboration with AbbVie, we aim to investigate the underlying pathophysiology and neural circuits. We are delighted to welcome Kevin and his team to BioMed X as they take on this important challenge.”
This is the third research project in the collaboration between BioMed X and AbbVie, which began in 2015 with a research group in Alzheimer’s disease at the BioMed X Institute in Heidelberg, Germany. In 2023, the partners launched their first U.S.-based project in New Haven focused on immunology and tissue engineering.
About BioMed X
BioMed X is a leading innovation engine where disruptive ideas in biomedical research and development come to life. With our global network of research institutes and venture-creating incubators, embedded within major innovation hubs, we bridge the gap between academic research and the needs of the pharmaceutical industry.
We are pioneers in applying the principles of design thinking and crowdsourcing to drug discovery and development. With our unique model, we partner with pharma, venture capital, and patient-focused foundations to identify key challenges across all therapeutic areas, recruit top talent, and co-create tailored solutions.
In our stimulating ecosystem, talented researchers from all around the globe grow into industry-ready scientific leaders. They perform exploratory research, deliver industry-grade results, and pave the way for next-generation therapies. At BioMed X, we value curiosity, diversity, and purpose. Together, we serve as a vital catalyst for innovation in global health – for the benefit of all patients.
